EP0538117B1 - Procédé et dispositif de la production simultanée de l'oxygène à haute et basse pureté - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif de la production simultanée de l'oxygène à haute et basse pureté Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0538117B1
EP0538117B1 EP92402798A EP92402798A EP0538117B1 EP 0538117 B1 EP0538117 B1 EP 0538117B1 EP 92402798 A EP92402798 A EP 92402798A EP 92402798 A EP92402798 A EP 92402798A EP 0538117 B1 EP0538117 B1 EP 0538117B1
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stream
oxygen
feed stream
column
feed
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German (de)
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EP0538117B2 (fr
EP0538117A1 (fr
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Bao Ha
Catherine Garnier
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Liquid Air Engineering Corp Canada
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Liquid Air Engineering Corp Canada
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04078Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression
    • F25J3/0409Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression of oxygen
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D3/00Distillation or related exchange processes in which liquids are contacted with gaseous media, e.g. stripping
    • B01D3/14Fractional distillation or use of a fractionation or rectification column
    • B01D3/32Other features of fractionating columns ; Constructional details of fractionating columns not provided for in groups B01D3/16 - B01D3/30
    • B01D3/322Reboiler specifications
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04163Hot end purification of the feed air
    • F25J3/04169Hot end purification of the feed air by adsorption of the impurities
    • F25J3/04175Hot end purification of the feed air by adsorption of the impurities at a pressure of substantially more than the highest pressure column
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04151Purification and (pre-)cooling of the feed air; recuperative heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04187Cooling of the purified feed air by recuperative heat-exchange; Heat-exchange with product streams
    • F25J3/04193Division of the main heat exchange line in consecutive sections having different functions
    • F25J3/04206Division of the main heat exchange line in consecutive sections having different functions including a so-called "auxiliary vaporiser" for vaporising and producing a gaseous product
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04248Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04284Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/0429Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of feed air, e.g. used as waste or product air or expanded into an auxiliary column
    • F25J3/04296Claude expansion, i.e. expanded into the main or high pressure column
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04406Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J3/04418Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system with thermally overlapping high and low pressure columns
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/50Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using multiple (re-)boiler-condensers at different heights of the column
    • F25J2200/54Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification using multiple (re-)boiler-condensers at different heights of the column in the low pressure column of a double pressure main column system
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2215/00Processes characterised by the type or other details of the product stream
    • F25J2215/50Oxygen or special cases, e.g. isotope-mixtures or low purity O2
    • F25J2215/52Oxygen production with multiple purity O2
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2250/00Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
    • F25J2250/30External or auxiliary boiler-condenser in general, e.g. without a specified fluid or one fluid is not a primary air component or an intermediate fluid
    • F25J2250/40One fluid being air
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25JLIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2250/00Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
    • F25J2250/30External or auxiliary boiler-condenser in general, e.g. without a specified fluid or one fluid is not a primary air component or an intermediate fluid
    • F25J2250/50One fluid being oxygen
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/923Inert gas
    • Y10S62/924Argon
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/939Partial feed stream expansion, air
    • Y10S62/94High pressure column

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a process and apparatus for simultaneously producing both high and low purity oxygen comprising the features as indicated in the preamble of claim 1, vesp. claim 11.
  • the single reboiler, double column process is usually used. Unfortunately, this process has a much higher specific power consumption than the double reboiler and double column process.
  • an on-site oxygen facility may produce a gaseous oxygen product at 95% purity for a pipeline customer, yet local demand may require a liquid oxygen product having 99.6% oxygen content which is a normal standard grade for liquid oxygen.
  • a process for simultaneously producing both high and low purity oxygen using a double distillation column comprising a high pressure column and a pressure column comprises:
  • an apparatus for simultaneously producing both high and low purity oxygen which comprises feed stream input means, a double rectification column in fluid connection with said input means having therein a lower pressure fractionating means with first and second reboilers therein, said first reboiler being positioned below said second reboiler and a higher pressure fractionating means wherein an outlet is provided at the bottom of the lower pressure fractionating means for extracting a high-purity liquid oxygen stream, and characterized in that an intermediate outlet is provided between the two reboilers of the lower pressure fractionating means for extracting a low purity oxygen stream.
  • Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between overall oxygen recovery and percentage of high purity liquid produced for 95 % low purity gaseous oxygen and 99.9 % high purity liquid oxygen.
  • Figure 2 illustrates an apparatus for practicing the present invention.
  • Figure 3 illustrates an alternative apparatus for practicing the present invention using a pumping process where pumped liquid oxygen is vaporized directly in the main exchanger.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an apparatus for practicing the present invention using a pumping process where pumped liquid oxygen is vaporized in a separate exchanger against a condensing feed stream.
  • both high and low purity oxygen are simultaneously produced using a double reboiler, double column process with feed stream expansion having reduced power consumption.
  • the double reboiler, double column process is characterized by condensing a feed stream against oxygen product. This results in a relatively low operating pressure of about 4 bar for the high pressure column. A conventional single reboiler process would require a pressure of about 6 bar. Therefore, significant power savings are achievable with the double reboiler, double column process if an oxygen purity of less than 97% is acceptable.
  • the double reboiler, double column process is characterized by a low operating pressure, low purity oxygen and low power consumption.
  • the traditional simple reboiler process is characterized by a high operating pressure, high purity oxygen and high power consumption.
  • feed stream expansion process is frequently used where the feed stream is expanded through an expander into the high pressure column.
  • feed stream pressure upstream of the expander would be much lower for the double reboiler process since its discharge pressure is the lower of the two processes. Therefore, much lower power consumption can be achieved for the liquid production.
  • the double reboiler process can produce a high proportion of high purity oxygen product while maintaining high overall oxygen recovery.
  • up to 30% of 99.9% purity liquid oxygen can be produced in conjunction with 95% purity gaseous oxygen and with a recovery of between 99.5% and 97.5%, which is, indeed, unexpected. This result is unexpected because 30% is a high proportion for a cryogenic air separation process.
  • any expansion means is suitable, such as nitrogen-rich gas expansion or air expansion into a low pressure fractionating means.
  • feed stream refers to any gaseous mixture containing at least nitrogen and oxygen.
  • the feed stream may be atmospheric air or may be an off-gas mixture.
  • the term "recovery” is defined as total contained oxygen in products divided by total oxygen contained in the feed stream.
  • percent high purity oxygen is defined as production of high purity oxygen divided by total oxygen production.
  • high purity oxygen means any gas containing at least 97 mol% of oxygen
  • low purity oxygen means any gas containing less than 97 mol% of oxygen
  • the present invention provides an intermediate outlet between the two reboilers of the upper distillation column to extract a low purity oxygen stream. Additionally, a high purity liquid oxygen stream is recovered at the bottom.
  • a feed stream such as purified atmospheric air, is compressed and cooled. Thereafter, the feed stream is fed through conduit (101) to a main exchanger (11), where the feed stream is further cooled and then divided into two fractions (A) and (B). First fraction (A) is then expanded in expander (12), and thereafter further divided into two fractions (i) and (ii) at the junction of conduits (106) and (107).
  • Feed stream (B) is further cooled in the main exchanger and at least a fraction of this stream is expanded by expansion valve (130a) into a high pressure column (20) as liquid feed stream.
  • First fraction (i) is introduced into a reboiler (24) at the bottom of the low pressure distillation column (21) to provide a first reboil for distillation. Thereafter, at least a fraction of the resulting liquefied feed stream is fed to either or both high and low pressure columns as feeding conduits (111) and/or (112).
  • the second fraction (ii) is fed to the bottom of the high pressure column (20) as gaseous feed, to form a bottom oxygen-rich liquid stream (108) and an overhead nitrogen rich gaseous stream (114). Thereafter, the oxygen-rich liquid stream is passed to the low pressure column (21) as feed.
  • the nitrogen-rich gaseous stream is condensed against a boiling liquid in the upper reboiler (23) of the low pressure column (21), thereby serving as a second reboil for distillation. Then, a portion of the condensed nitrogen-rich stream is returned in conduit (131) to the high pressure column (20) as reflux via conduit (115) and the remaining portion of the nitrogen-rich stream to the top of the low pressure column as reflux via conduit (116), whereby the low pressure column (21) separates its feeds into bottom stream oxygen products and top stream (120) rich in nitrogen.
  • bottom stream oxygen product (118) is recovered as high-purity oxygen.
  • a stream (111) is then drawn at a stage between the two reboilers (23) and (24) of the low pressure column (21) as low purity gaseous oxygen product.
  • the nitrogen-rich stream is warmed in at least exchanger (11), and optionally exchanger (22), via conduits (120) and (121), with the low purity oxygen stream (119) from the low pressure column.
  • a booster compressor (10), driven by the expander (12), may be optionally used to further compress the feed stream entering via conduit (100).
  • the feed stream then is fed via conduit (101) to the main exchanger (11) and therethrough via conduit (102), whereinafter a portion of the feed stream is passed via conduit (103) to expander (12) and then to conduit (105), and thereinafter further divided into two fractions via conduits (106) and (107) as described above.
  • oxygen-rich liquid stream (108) is optionally subcooled in exchanger (22) and then transferred to the low pressure column (21) via conduit (109).
  • the liquefied feed stream (112) may be subcooled in exchanger (22), and then transferred to the low pressure column via conduit (113).
  • the liquefied feed stream may be fed directly to the low pressure column.
  • a feed stream, containing at least nitrogen and oxygen, which has been compressed and cooled is passed to a main exchanger.
  • the feed stream is compressed in compressing means and cooled.
  • the compressing means may comprise a booster (10) driven by a turbine (12).
  • the feed stream after compression is at a pressure in the range of about 6 to 50 bar. The preferred pressure depends upon the percentage of liquid produced. If a higher percentage of liquid is needed then higher pressure is required. However, in general, the preferred pressure is in the range of about 10 to 35 bar.
  • the compressed, cooled and purified feed stream is further cooled in a main exchanger, where it is divided into two fractions (A) and (B).
  • the feed stream is at a temperature in the range of about -120°C to -150°C. It is preferred, however, that the feed stream be at a temperature of about -125°C to -145°C.
  • the first fraction (A) is expanded in step b) in an expander and subsequently divided into two further fractions (i) and (ii).
  • the preferred discharge pressure range of the expander is 3 to 5 bar.
  • the second fraction (B) is further cooled in step c) in the main exchanger and at least a fraction of this stream is expanded by an expansion valve into the high pressure column as liquid feed stream.
  • fraction (B) is generally subcooled beyond the bubble point. It is preferred, however, that it be subcooled to a temperature in the range of about -150°C to -180°C.
  • step d) the first fraction (i) is introduced into a reboiler located at the bottom of the low pressure distillation column, whereby the feed stream condenses in the reboiler providing a first reboil for distillation. At least a fraction of the resulting liquefied feed stream is then fed to either or both high and low pressure columns as feed.
  • the temperature of the resulting liquefied feed stream to the high pressure column is generally near the bubble point, preferably at the bubble point.
  • the temperature of the liquefied feed stream to the low pressure column is generally subcooled below the bubble point.
  • the second fraction (ii) is introduced to the bottom of the high pressure column as gaseous feed, whereby a bottom oxygen-rich liquid stream and an overhead nitrogen-rich gaseous stream are formed.
  • the temperature is near the dew point.
  • the oxygen-rich liquid stream is then passed to the low pressure column as feed.
  • the stream in passing the oxygen-rich liquid stream to the low pressure column as feed, the stream is preferably subcooled before expanding into the low pressure column.
  • the nitrogen-rich gaseous stream is then condensed against a boiling liquid in the upper reboiler of the low pressure column, thereby serving as a second reboil for distillation.
  • a portion of the condensed nitrogen-rich stream is returned to the high pressure column as reflux, and the remaining portion of the nitrogen-rich stream is passed to the top of the low pressure column as reflux, whereby the low pressure column separates its feeds into bottom oxygen products and top stream rich in nitrogen.
  • the bottom oxygen product (118) is recovered as high purity liquid oxygen.
  • purities in the range of 97% to 99.99% are obtained.
  • a stream (119) is drawn at a tray located between the two reboilers of the low pressure column as low purity oxygen.
  • the vapor product can be extracted as part of the vapor leaving the tray or stage in the case that structured packings are used or, an equivalent means which is conventionally so used. If the product is liquid, the liquid product is extracted as part of the liquid leaving the tray or stage.
  • the low purity oxygen stream and the nitrogen-rich stream are warmed to ambient conditions.
  • argon may be recovered by means of an argon sidearm column at a tray between the two oxygen product outlets or a stage in the case of structured packings.
  • the term "tray” refers to any means or device for effecting intimate contact and mass transfer between a descending liquid phase and an ascending vapor phase. These various trays are well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the term "tray” as used herein also includes means known as structured packings or equivalent means which are devices equivalent to trays to effect such intimate contact for cryogenic air separation.
  • structured packings are disclosed, e.g. in U.S. Patents 2,047,444; 4,186,156 and 4,296,050, each patent being incorporated herein by reference in the entirety, and Ellis et al, Trans. Instn. Chem. Engrs ., 41, 1963, known as Goodloe packings.
  • These structured packings are known as means to promote liquid and/or vapor mixing in a direction perpendicular to the primary flow direction, i.e., the vertical direction.
  • a combination of trays and packings can be used as mass transfer means.
  • Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between overall oxygen recovery and percentage of high purity liquid produced for 95% low purity gaseous oxygen and 99.9% high purity liquid oxygen.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as described above.
  • Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention using a pumping process where pumped liquid oxygen is vaporized directly in the main exchanger.
  • the low purity oxygen stream (119) is produced in the liquid form directly off the low pressure column (21). This liquid is then pumped to a higher pressure using a pumping means (140) and then vaporized and warmed in the main exchanger (11). At the same time, a high pressure feed stream (104) is condensed in the main exchanger (11) to provide necessary heat for the vaporization of the oxygen stream.
  • the low purity oxygen stream (119) is produced in the liquid form directly off the low pressure column (21). This liquid is then pumped to a higher pressure using pumping means (140) and then vaporized in a separate exchanger (150) against a condensing feed stream.
  • feed stream refers to any mixture of gas containing nitrogen and oxygen, such as air or any off-stream gas mixture containing oxygen, nitrogen and other gases.
  • air such as air or any off-stream gas mixture containing oxygen, nitrogen and other gases.
  • present process is of particular advantage when used with any feed stream mixture containing nitrogen, oxygen and argon.
  • the present invention also provides an apparatus for simultaneously producing both high and low purity oxygen, which entails a double rectification column having a lower pressure fractionating means with two reboilers therein, and a higher pressure fractionating means, wherein an intermediate outlet is provided between the two reboilers of the lower pressure fractionating means for simultaneously extracting a low-purity oxygen stream and a high-purity liquid oxygen stream.
  • the apparatus entails a double rectification column having high and low pressure fractionating means with two reboilers in the low pressure fractionating means, and having a first feed stream input means in fluid connection with a first reboiler located at the bottom of the low pressure fractionating means, a second feed stream input means in fluid connection with the bottom of the high pressure fractionating means, and a third feed stream input means in fluid connection with the high pressure column; expanding means in contact with the second and third feed stream input means and being upstream of the double rectification column; conduit means for feeding liquefied feed stream to both high and low pressure fractionating means from the lower reboiler of the low pressure fractionating means; conduit means for feeding part of a nitrogen-rich stream from the upper reboiler of the low pressure fractionating means to the high pressure fractionating means, and conduit means for feeding a remaining part of the nitrogen-rich stream to the top of the low pressure fractionating means; conduit means for feeding an oxygen-rich liquid stream to the low pressure fractionating means; and
  • a further embodiment of the apparatus is provided wherein the low purity oxygen stream is produced in liquid form directly off the low pressure column. This liquid is then pumped to a higher pressure using pumping means and then vaporized and warmed in the main exchanger. At the same time, a high pressure feed stream is condensed in the main exchanger to provide necessary heat for the vaporization of the oxygen stream.
  • Such an apparatus is depicted in Figure 3.
  • an apparatus wherein the low purity oxygen stream is produced in the liquid form directly off the low pressure column. This liquid is then pumped to a higher pressure using pumping means and then vaporized in a separate exchanger against a condensing feed stream. Such an apparatus is depicted in Figure 4.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
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Claims (22)

  1. Procédé pour la production simultanée d'oxygène à la fois à haute et basse pureté, en utilisant une colonne de distillation double comprenant une colonne haute pression (20) et une colonne basse pression (21) qui comprend:
    a) la condensation d'une première fraction de courant d'alimentation comprimée et refroidie (106) contenant au moins de l'azote et de l'oxygène dans un premier rebouilleur (24) situé au bas de la colonne basse pression (21);
    b) l'alimentation d'au moins une fraction du courant d'alimentation liquéfié résultant (110) à l'une ou aux deux colonnes haute pression et basse pression (20, 21) en tant que charge d'alimentation;
    c) l'introduction d'une deuxième fraction de courant d'alimentation (107) au bas de la colonne haute pression (21) en tant que charge d'alimentation gazeuse, un courant de bas de colonne liquide riche en oxygène et un courant de tête gazeux riche en azote étant ainsi formés;
    d) le passage du courant liquide riche en oxygène à la colonne basse pression en tant que charge d'alimentation;
    e) la condensation du courant gazeux riche en azote contre un liquide bouillant dans une deuxième rebouilleur (23) de la colonne basse pression, servant ainsi de deuxième rebouillissage en vue de la distillation, ledit deuxième rebouilleur (23) étant placé au-dessus dudit premier rebouilleur (24) ;
    f) le retour d'une portion (115) du courant riche en azote condensé à la colonne haute pression (20) en tant que reflux, et le passage d'au moins une fraction (116) de la portion restante du courant riche en azote vers le haut de la colonne basse pression en tant que reflux, la colonne basse pression séparant ainsi ses charges d'alimentation en produits d'oxygène de courant de bas de colonne et en produits de courant de haut de colonne riches en azote; et
    g) la récupération du produit d'oxygène de courant de bas de colonne (118) à partir d'une première sortie en tant qu'oxygène liquide à haute pureté,
       caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend:
    h) le retrait, à partir d'un plateau ou d'un étage entre les premier et deuxième rebouilleurs (23, 24) de la colonne basse pression, par l'intermédiaire d'une deuxième sortie, du produit d'oxygène de courant (119) en tant qu'oxygène à basse pureté.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le courant d'alimentation contient en plus de l'argon.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que le courant d'alimentation est de l'air atmosphérique.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 2, qui comprend en outre la récupération d'argon à l'aide d'une colonne argon de type à bras latéral et le retrait d'un courant riche en argon à un plateau ou à un étage entre les deux sorties de produit d'oxygène.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que dans l'étape a) la première fraction de courant d'alimentation (106) est comprimée à une pression d'environ 6 à 50 bar.
  6. Procédé selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que la première fraction de courant d'alimentation (106) est comprimée à une pression d'environ 10 à 35 bar.
  7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'une partie d'un courant d'alimentation, qui constitue une troisième fraction de courant d'alimentation (104, 130) à une pression plus élevée que celle de la première fraction de courant (106) et de la deuxième fraction de courant (107), est refroidie et acheminée vers la colonne haute pression (20).
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que ledit troisième courant d'alimentation (104, 130) est condensé par échange thermique avec au moins un produit liquide du procédé.
  9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la première fraction de courant d'alimentation est détendue dans un dispositif d'expansion (12) avant condensation.
  10. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdites première et deuxième fractions de courant d'alimentation (106, 107) sont à une pression substantiellement identique.
  11. Dispositif pour la production simultanée d'oxygène à la fois à haute et basse pression, qui comprend des moyens d'introduction de courant d'alimentation, une colonne de rectification double en connexion fluide avec lesdits moyens d'introduction ayant en son sein un moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21), avec, en son sein, un premier et un deuxième rebouilleurs (24, 23), ledit premier rebouilleur (24) étant placé en-dessous dudit deuxième rebouilleur (23), et un moyen de fractionnement à pression plus élevée (20), dans lequel une sortie est prévue au bas du moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21) en vue de l'extraction d'un courant d'oxygène liquide à haute pureté, et caractérisé en ce qu'une sortie intermédiaire est prévue entre les deux rebouilleurs du moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse en vue de l'extraction d'un courant d'oxygène à basse pureté.
  12. Dispositif selon la revendication 11, comprenant un premier moyen d'introduction de courant d'alimentation (106) en connexion fluide avec le premier rebouilleur (24) situé au bas du moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21), un deuxième moyen d'introduction de courant d'alimentation (107) en connexion fluide avec le bas du moyen de fractionnement à pression plus élevée (20), et un troisième moyen d'introduction de courant d'alimentation (104, 131) en connexion fluide avec le moyen de fractionnement à pression plus élevée (20).
  13. Dispositif selon les revendications 11 ou 12, comprenant un moyen d'expansion (12) en contact ou en connexion avec tous lesdits moyens d'introduction de courant d'alimentation (103, 104, 106, 107, 131) en amont de ladite colonne de rectification double.
  14. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 11 à 13, comprenant des moyens de canalisation (111, 112, 113) pour l'alimentation d'au moins une fraction du courant d'alimentation liquéfié à partir du bas du moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21) vers l'un ou les deux moyens de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21) ou à pression plus élevée (20) en tant que charge d'alimentation.
  15. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 14, comprenant des moyens de canalisation (115) pour l'alimentation d'une portion d'un courant riche en azote condensé pour le deuxième rebouilleur (23) du moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21) vers le moyen de fractionnement à pression plus élevée (20) en tant que reflux.
  16. Dispositif selon la revendication 15, comprenant des moyens de canalisation (116, 117) pour l'alimentation de la portion restante du courant riche en azote vers le haut du moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21) en tant que reflux.
  17. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 16, comprenant un moyen de sortie (118) pour la récupération du produit d'oxygène liquide à haute pureté.
  18. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 17, comprenant un moyen principal d'introduction de courant d'alimentation (100) alimentant lesdits premier, deuxième et troisième moyens d'introduction de courant d'alimentation et étant situé en amount de celui-ci, ledit moyen principal d'introduction de courant d'alimentation étant en connexion fluide avec un compresseur d'appoint (10) actionné par un dispositif d'expansion (12).
  19. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 18, comprenant un moyen de sortie (119) à partir dudit moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21) pour l'obtention dudit courant d'oxygène à basse pureté, ledit moyen de sortie étant en connexion fluide avec un moyen de pompage (140) en aval de celui-ci, et avec moyen d'échange thermique (11) en aval dudit moyen de pompage.
  20. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 19, comprenant un moyen de sortie (119) à partir dudit moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21) pour l'obtention dudit courant d'oxygène à basse pureté, ledit moyen de sortie (119) étant en connexion fluide avec un moyen de pompage (140) en aval de celui-ci, et avec un moyen séparé d'échange (150), différent d'un échangeur principal (11) en aval dudit moyen de pompage.
  21. Dispositif selon la revendication 20, comprenant des moyens (130, 131) pour l'envoi d'un courant d'alimentation à ladite colonne de rectification double par l'intermédiaire dudit moyen séparé d'échange (150).
  22. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 20, comprenant une colonne argon de type à bras latéral et des moyens pour fournir un courant d'alimentation enrichi en argon à ladite colonne de type à bras latéral à partir dudit moyen de fractionnement à pression plus basse (21).
EP92402798A 1991-10-15 1992-10-14 Procédé et dispositif de la production simultanée de l'oxygène à haute et basse pureté Expired - Lifetime EP0538117B2 (fr)

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US775453 1991-10-15
US07/775,453 US5315833A (en) 1991-10-15 1991-10-15 Process for the mixed production of high and low purity oxygen

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EP0538117B2 (fr) 1999-07-21
EP0538117A1 (fr) 1993-04-21
DE69208418T3 (de) 1999-09-23
ES2083711T5 (es) 1999-10-01
ES2083711T3 (es) 1996-04-16
US5349824A (en) 1994-09-27
US5396773A (en) 1995-03-14
DE69208418D1 (de) 1996-03-28
US5315833A (en) 1994-05-31
DE69208418T2 (de) 1996-07-04

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